Writ challenges Ad-Din Hospital licence revocation

A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Monday challenging the cancellation of Ad-Din Hospital’s licence following the deaths of six newborns, allegedly caused by negligence.

The petition was submitted by Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond before the relevant High Court bench.

Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir, counsel for the hospital, said the hospital authorities were not involved in filing the writ petition.

On June 11, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) revoked Ad-Din Hospital’s licence in connection with the deaths of the six newborns.

However, it had said the hospital could appeal to the government within 30 days for reconsidering the decision as per the law.

On May 27, six newborns died in the postnatal ward of Ad-Din Hospital at Moghbazar within a span of three hours.

Habibur Rahman, father of one of the deceased, filed a case at Ramna Police Station alleging negligence on the part of the hospital authorities.

The government formed a three-member committee to look into the allegation.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain disclosed the findings of the committee at a press conference at the Secretariat on June 4, saying the committee found that negligence led to the deaths of the six newborns.

On the same day, the DGHS issued a show-cause notice to the hospital asking it to explain why its licence should not be revoked over the deaths of the newborns.

The hospital authorities had submitted a reply to the notice. However, the government did not find the response satisfactory and hence revoked the licence.

The hospital authorities later appealed against the cancellation of the licence.